The Hardest Fall(45)

Having trouble taking my eyes off of her, I flinched at her words. When she moved to storm past me, I caught her wrist and got up.

She stopped, but she didn’t look at me. She didn’t even tell me to let go of her.

Her complicated situation had officially started to fuck with my head. If only I knew for sure that it wasn’t…

“I’m sorry, Zoe. You’re right, and I’m an asshole. Of course I know you’re not like that. Of course I do.” I softened my grip on her wrist and snaked my fingers around hers. “I’m sorry. If it’ll make you feel any better, you can insult me too.”

She hesitated before sending a quick glance at me. “You really ate the whole thing?” Of all the things she could’ve said, she went with that.

“You’re not gonna bust my balls?”

She slipped her hand out of mine and rubbed her palm on the side of her dress.

“What am I supposed to insult you with? Gee, your body is so ugly, you’re ruining my view every damn morning? How pathetic does that sound? I don’t have anything on you—at least not yet—but I’m pretty sure I’ll remember this and say something when the time is right, when you’re least expecting it, of course.”

I smiled at her. She liked watching me work out in the mornings. I already knew that since she came out and found things to do while I was busy with my sit-ups and push-ups, but hearing it from her confirmed what I’d already guessed. My smile slowly morphed into the biggest grin.

“What now?” she snapped.

“I hope you won’t break my heart too much, Zoe Clarke.”

“Only as much as you broke mine, thinking I’d be interested in someone because of their bank account.”

That wiped the smile clear off my face.

In a rough voice, I said, “I’m an asshole. I deserved that.”

Her teeth scraped her bottom lip. Helpless to do anything, I just watched.

Averting her gaze, she took a step away from me. When she looked up, her eyes only made it to my lips. “Look, I’m cranky, a little tired, and maybe just a little hangry thrown in there, too. I’m just gonna go to bed. I have an early class tomorrow, anyway.”

“Don’t you want the pizza? If nothing else, we can fix the hangry part.” Just because that sick bastard had stood her up and hadn’t fed her didn’t mean I was gonna let her go to bed unhappy.

“The pizza?” She sighed and looked back at the almost empty box. “That doesn’t count as the pizza, Dylan. It’s just a slice of pizza. So, I rather not. It’ll only make me hungrier for more. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Another step away from me.

“I guess that means you’re not up to watching a movie with me either.”

She only managed half a smile when she looked my way. “Maybe another night. Good night.”

“You might wanna check the oven before you leave.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“It was supposed to be a thank you for helping me out with the groceries today, but I’m thinking I owe you an apology now.” Finally her eyes met mine, and I tilted my chin toward the kitchen. “Just see if you want it. If you don’t, you can get away from me.”

A small smile formed on her lips. “Is it pizza? Please say it’s pizza. I want it to be pizza so badly. Please say pizza.”

I laughed. “I don’t know, see for yourself.”

Moving toward the kitchen, she threw over her shoulder, “If it’s not pizza, I’m gonna be doubly pissed at you, just so you know.” She opened the oven and bent down to check inside.

There was a small gasp then she came up with the pizza box in her hand and the biggest smile plastered on her face. “Dylan, it’s a whole pizza…just for me?”

I chuckled. “Yeah, you don’t have to share.”

“It’s from that Neapolitan place, and it’s still warm, too.”

“I just got in about ten minutes before you. I wanted to wait, but I wasn’t sure what time you’d be back, and the smell got to me.” I tried not to think where she’d been or who she’d been waiting for.

Giving me another one of her sweet-as-fuck smiles, she set the box on the island and opened it. Holding back her wavy dark brown hair with both hands, she leaned down until her nose was almost touching the pizza and inhaled.

The loud groan she let out made my dick surge to life in my pants.

“God, the smell. This is not fair, you know,” she said quietly, her face still practically in the pizza. “I’m kind of angry at you, and you got me my absolute favorite thing.”

I wouldn’t tell her I’d spent the last bit of cash I had on me so I could get us this treat. Whatever was left on my debit card after the grocery shopping she’d done for me was all the money I had until I could pick up some shifts at the bar, which was probably thirty dollars or less. “I told you, I’m an asshole.”

“I didn’t think you were, actually, but yeah, apparently you are.” Closing the box, she picked it up and made her way back to me. “Still, thank you. I was trying to play it cool, but I was really pissed at you for eating an entire large all by yourself.”

I laughed. “I’m afraid you weren’t that good at playing it cool, Zoe.”